HARDWARE Asus P5N32-SLI Premium/Wifi-AP Solo

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[edit] Introduction

I tried to use my new configuration with Ubuntu 6.10, but the network never works. With the gentoo minimal installation CD, the network works only on eth1. I tested eth0 with net-setup command, and the IP address runs only few seconds.

• The other elements work fine. See below to know the configuration of the different elements.
• Another problem was the emerging of baselayout. The net.lo scripts of versions 1.12.5 and 1.12.6 don't work. I had a dhcpStart error. I use baselayout-1.12.4

->solution found: I use baselayout-1.12.9 and the correct wireless file described below and all works fine.

• After a couple of weeks, I found another problem with Wifi driver. When I test it with links or emerge command, all works fine, but with konqueror or firefox the system freezes completely after few seconds. See below how to have a good wireless connection<

• [update] I have same motherboard and somehow specifying msi=0 msix=0 as option to forcedeth resolves all the problems with eth0 and eth1

[edit] Wifi-AP Solo

Note: kernel 2.6.23 have integrated rtl8187 driver! To compile this module in 2.6.23, enable:

Networking --->
  Wireless --->
     <M> Improved wireless configuration API 
     < > Generic IEEE 802.11 Networking Stack (mac80211)
     < > Generic IEEE 802.11 Networking Stack
Device Drivers --->
  Network device support --->
    Wireless LAN --->
      [*] Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11) 
      <M> Realtek 8187 USB support 
Cryptographic options --->
  [*]Cryptographic API
  <*>ARC4 cipher algorithm
Library routines
  ---CRC32 functions

The board is based on the Realtek 8187 Chip. This configuration is for the people who want to use WEP encryption. I didn't test the others.

• It works fine with the kernel-2.6.18 (kernel 2.6.19 not tested). The kernel 2.6.20 encounters errors when the module is compiled.

• To configure it in kernel:
  • Don't select Generic IEEE 802.11 Networking Stack
  • Don't select any drivers in Wireless LAN drivers

Networking --->
  [*]Networking support
  < > Generic IEEE 802.11 Networking Stack
Device Drivers --->
  Network device support --->
    Wireless LAN (non-hamradio) --->
      [*] Wireless LAN drivers (non-hamradio) & Wireless Extensions
Cryptographic options --->
  [*]Cryptographic API
  <*>ARC4 cipher algorithm
Library routines
  ---CRC32 functions

• To configure it in Gentoo:
  • Be careful, the ebuild doesn't work fine. So, download the last version of rtl8187 driver (see http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=24&PFid=1&Level=6&Conn=5&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false&Downloads=true), compile it and copy .ko files in the modules directory.
  • The name of the driver has changed, you have to download the rtl8187L driver. I compiled it successfully, but not tested.

• • Update: the latest is now in portage

#emerge net-wireless/wireless-tools
#emerge rtl8187
#wget ftp://202.65.194.18/cn/wlan/rtl8187_linux_26.1010.zip
#unzip rtl8187_linux_26.1010.zip
#cd rtl8187_linux_26.1010
#./makedrv
#cp ./beta-8187/r8187.ko /lib/modules/2.6.x-gentoo-rx/net/
#cp ./ieee80211/*.ko /lib/modules/2.6.x-gentoo-rx/net/
#echo r8187 >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.X
#echo ieee80211-rtl >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.X
#echo ieee80211_crypt_wep-rtl >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.X
#echo ieee80211_crypt_tkip-rtl >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.X
#echo ieee80211_crypt_ccmp-rtl >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.X
#echo ieee80211_crypt-rtl >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.X
#ln -s /etc/init.d/net.lo /etc/init.d/net.wlan0
#rc-update add net.wlan0 default
#nano -w /etc/conf.d/net
        essid_wlan0="MY_ESSID"
        channel_wlan0="7"
        key_MY_ESSID="XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XX enc open"
        config_wlan0=( "dhcp" )
        dhcpcd_MY_ESSID="-t 10 nodns nonis nontp"

[edit] High Definition Audio

Choose this one:

Device drivers --->
  Sound --->
    <*> Sound card support
      Advanced Linux Sound Architecture  --->
        PCI Devices --->
          <*>Intel HD Audio

see http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml for more information about the configuration.

[edit] SATA Controller

• You can select only:

SCSI Device Support -->
  SCSI low-level drivers --->
    <*>Serial ATA (SATA) support
      <*>NVIDIA SATA support

• Don't forget to select:
  • SCSI disk support
  • SCSI CDROM support

if you use HDD, CDROM player respectively.